Written Answers Friday 9 November 2007

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been (a) charged with and (b) convicted of a drink driving-related offence in (i) November and (ii) December in each year since 2003, broken down by (A) local authority area and (B) police division.

Kenny MacAskill: Statistics on persons charged by the police are not available centrally. The available information on persons proceeded against in court and persons with a charge proved is given in the following tables. The information provided is based on the month of sentence (or month of disposal if the charge was not proved). Statistics held centrally on court proceedings do not contain information on the date on which offences were originally committed.

  Persons Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts for Drink Driving-Related Offences1, by Approximate Local Authority Area2, by Month of Sentence3, November to December 2003, November to December 2004, November to December 2005

  

 Local Authority Area
 November
2003
 December
2003
 November
2004
 December
2004
 November
2005
 December
2005


 Aberdeen City 
 36
 57
 48
 54
 31
 42


 Aberdeenshire 
 25
 8
 23
 9
 16
 24


 Angus 
 28
 19
 17
 13
 13
 17


 Argyll and Bute 
 9
 13
 7
 11
 10
 10


 Clackmannanshire 
 6
 5
 2
 4
 5
 5


 Dumfries and Galloway
 22
 16
 25
 29
 16
 19


 Dundee City 
 23
 32
 31
 32
 11
 17


 East Ayrshire 
 21
 29
 26
 28
 27
 20


 East Dunbartonshire
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 East Lothian 
 10
 13
 14
 12
 15
 10


 East Renfrewshire
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Edinburgh, City of 
 54
 46
 66
 60
 49
 60


 Eilean Siar 
 4
 2
 12
 4
 13
 4


 Falkirk 
 20
 17
 18
 25
 16
 12


 Fife 
 40
 32
 41
 57
 27
 49


 Glasgow City 
 90
 78
 93
 91
 81
 83


 Highland 
 57
 53
 61
 47
 46
 41


 Inverclyde 
 6
 9
 9
 7
 5
 12


 Midlothian
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Moray 
 15
 22
 20
 19
 11
 13


 North Ayrshire
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 North Lanarkshire 
 25
 24
 26
 20
 18
 18


 Orkney Islands 
 5
 1
 5
 6
 1
 2


 Perth and Kinross 
 22
 37
 24
 17
 7
 17


 Renfrewshire 
 25
 17
 20
 25
 21
 18


 Scottish Borders 
 13
 14
 11
 24
 13
 11


 Shetland Islands 
 1
 3
 5
 7
 4
 2


 South Ayrshire 
 22
 22
 16
 16
 11
 28


 South Lanarkshire 
 33
 30
 48
 50
 33
 62


 Stirling 
 18
 15
 9
 13
 10
 10


 West Dunbartonshire
 23
 16
 22
 24
 12
 23


 West Lothian 
 21
 23
 28
 15
 17
 25


 Scotland4
 675
 653
 727
 720
 539
 654



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence. Includes the crime of death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs.

  2. Incorporates an approximate mapping of sheriff courts into local authority areas. Some sheriff courts will deal with cases from more than one local authority area. Some local authority areas, including East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Midlothian and North Ayrshire, do not contain a sheriff court.

  3. Or month of disposal if the charge was not proved.

  4. Total contains a small number where local authority area is unknown.

  Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts for Drink Driving-Related Offences1, by approximate local authority area, by month of sentence, November to December 2003, November to December 2004, November to December 2005

  

 District Court
November
2003
December
2003
November
2004
December
2004
November
2005
December
2005


 Aberdeen City 
 35
 57
 46
 53
 30
 42


 Aberdeenshire 
 25
 8
 23
 8
 15
 23


 Angus 
 28
 18
 17
 13
 11
 15


 Argyll and Bute 
 9
 12
 7
 11
 10
 9


 Clackmannanshire 
 5
 5
 1
 4
 4
 5


 Dumfries and Galloway
 21
 15
 24
 25
 16
 18


 Dundee City 
 20
 29
 31
 29
 10
 15


 East Ayrshire 
 21
 28
 24
 27
 26
 20


 East Dunbartonshire
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 East Lothian 
 10
 12
 13
 11
 15
 10


 East Renfrewshire
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Edinburgh, City of 
 53
 44
 65
 56
 49
 59


 Eilean Siar 
 4
 2
 12
 3
 13
 3


 Falkirk 
 19
 17
 18
 25
 15
 12


 Fife 
 39
 31
 38
 56
 26
 48


 Glasgow City 
 89
 74
 87
 89
 80
 83


 Highland 
 53
 51
 60
 46
 45
 40


 Inverclyde 
 6
 9
 8
 7
 5
 12


 Midlothian
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Moray 
 15
 22
 19
 17
 11
 12


 North Ayrshire
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 North Lanarkshire 
 24
 23
 23
 19
 18
 15


 Orkney Islands 
 5
 1
 5
 6
 1
 2


 Perth and Kinross 
 21
 36
 24
 17
 7
 16


 Renfrewshire 
 24
 16
 19
 25
 19
 18


 Scottish Borders 
 13
 13
 10
 24
 13
 10


 Shetland Islands 
 1
 3
 5
 7
 4
 2


 South Ayrshire 
 22
 21
 16
 15
 11
 28


 South Lanarkshire 
 33
 27
 46
 50
 32
 60


 Stirling 
 17
 14
 9
 12
 9
 9


 West Dunbartonshire
 22
 15
 21
 22
 11
 23


 West Lothian 
 21
 22
 27
 15
 16
 23


 Scotland3
 656
 625
 698
 693
 522
 632



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence. Includes the crime of death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs.

  2. Incorporates an approximate mapping of sheriff courts into local authority areas. Some sheriff courts will deal with cases from more than one local authority area. Some local authority areas, including East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Midlothian and North Ayrshire, do not contain a sheriff court.

  3. Or month of disposal if the charge was not proved.

  4. Total contains a small number where local authority area is unknown.

  Persons Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts for Drink Driving-Related Offences1, by Police Force Area2, by Month of Sentence3, November to December 2003, November to December 2004, November to December 2005

  

 Police Force
November
2003
December
2003
November
2004
December
2004
November
2005
December
2005


 Central 
 44
 37
 29
 42
 31
 27


 Dumfries and Galloway
 22
 16
 25
 29
 16
 19


 Fife 
 41
 32
 41
 57
 27
 49


 Grampian 
 76
 87
 91
 82
 58
 79


 Lothian and Borders 
 98
 96
 119
 111
 94
 106


 Northern 
 67
 59
 83
 64
 64
 49


 Strathclyde 
 254
 238
 267
 273
 218
 274


 Tayside 
 73
 88
 72
 62
 31
 51


 Scotland
 675
 653
 727
 720
 539
 654



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence. Includes the crime of death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs.

  2. The table presents information by police force area because information is not held by specific police division.

  3. Or month of disposal if the charge was not proved.

  Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts for Drink Driving-Related Offences1, by Police Force Area2, by Month of Sentence3, November to December 2003, November to December 2004, November to December 2005

  

 Police Force
November
2003
December
2003
November
2004
December
2004
November
2005
December
2005


 Central 
 41
 36
 28
 41
 28
 26


 Dumfries and Galloway
 21
 15
 24
 25
 16
 18


 Fife 
 40
 31
 38
 56
 26
 48


 Grampian 
 75
 87
 88
 78
 56
 77


 Lothian and Borders 
 97
 91
 115
 106
 93
 102


 Northern 
 63
 57
 82
 62
 63
 47


 Strathclyde 
 250
 225
 251
 266
 212
 268


 Tayside 
 69
 83
 72
 59
 28
 46


 Scotland
 656
 625
 698
 693
 522
 632



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence. Includes the crime of death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs.

  2. The table presents information by police force area because information is not held by specific police division.

  3. Or month of disposal if the charge was not proved.

Broadcasting

Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4673 by Linda Fabiani on 25 October 2007, why it did not indicate under what specific functions of the Scottish Ministers the Scottish Broadcasting Commission was established and whether it will now provide the information requested.

Linda Fabiani: Further to the answers to questions S3W-4673 and S3W-3217, answered on 25 October 2007 and 14 September 2007 respectively, the purpose of the establishment and conduct of the commission is to offer ministers advice about how they might better pursue a range of the Scottish Government’s specific functions connected to the matters described in S3W-3217, and to describe matters that ministers may wish to propose that the Parliament consider. That is why I referred to the answer to question S3W-3217.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Culture

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3173 by Linda Fabiani on 3 September 2007, when it will be in a position to announce whether it has identified any duplication of functions between organisations within the cultural portfolio.

Linda Fabiani: I have announced plans to establish Creative Scotland, through an amalgamation of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen. In the longer term, our intention is to simplify Scottish public services and reduce the number of public bodies operating in Scotland by a quarter by the end of this Parliament. Work is underway to consider specific proposals to streamline the existing landscape. We will announce further details to Parliament later this year.

Culture

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1605 by Linda Fabiani on 2 July 2007, when an announcement will be made about the detailed arrangements for the implementation of the artists’ grant scheme.

Linda Fabiani: The scheme is still under development and we are therefore not yet in a position to announce any plans for detailed implementation. We have, however, been discussing possible options with key cultural bodies, and good progress has been made. I am keen that we put in place a mechanism which is as effective and robust as possible following exploration of the widest range of views. Once I am content that this has taken place, I will decide on the best way to implement such a scheme and make the appropriate announcement.

Culture

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what requirements it will place on local authorities in relation to the provision of cultural services.

Linda Fabiani: Local authorities already make a huge contribution to cultural delivery, and the Scottish Government will encourage them to build on this and to strive for continuous improvement and excellent outcomes for all the people of Scotland. We will be seeking to do this in straightforward, practical ways, such as dialogue with local communities and evaluation of the impacts of their activity.

  In this connection, the Scottish Government will work in partnership with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and with individual local authorities to make full use of the Community Planning process to widen access to cultural opportunities.

Culture

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to give further support to the creative industries.

Linda Fabiani: The government recognises that the creative industries are a successful and growing part of the Scottish economy. Significant support is already provided through the efforts of bodies such as the enterprise networks, the Scottish Arts Council, Scottish Screen, the Cultural Enterprise Office and others. The government is considering the role of Creative Scotland in the structure of support that will create the right conditions for the sector to maximise its potential.

Education

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the goal of the previous administration to make every school a health promoting school by 2007 has been achieved.

Adam Ingram: Schools across Scotland have risen to the challenge and are working in partnership with parents and a wide range of agencies to promote health and wellbeing. Inspection evidence, from over 500 primary and secondary schools across all 32 local authorities, highlights the increasing value placed on health promotion within our schools. In addition, local authorities and health partners regularly evaluate progress in schools through local accreditation processes.

  From 3 January 2008, the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition)(Scotland) Act 2007 will build on this work by placing a legal duty on Scottish ministers and education authorities to endeavour to ensure that all public schools and hostels provided and maintained by education authorities are health-promoting. The act will place the same duty on managers of grant-aided schools in relation to a school under their management. The act will amend the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000 so that strategies for health promotion form part of an education authority’s annual statement of education improvement objectives. This statement in turn forms the basis for school development plans prepared by each school.

  In addition, the new model being developed for managing the curriculum together with the health and wellbeing outcomes will emphasise that health and wellbeing permeates all aspects of the school and is the responsibility of all staff who work in schools.

Education

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers of English as an additional language were employed in schools in 2005-06.

Adam Ingram: There were 224.1 full-time equivalent of teachers in publicly funded schools as at September 2005 whose main subject taught was English as an additional language.

Education

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers of English as an additional language were employed in schools in 2006-07.

Adam Ingram: There were 192.7 full-time equivalent of teachers in publicly funded schools as at September 2006 whose main subject taught was English as an additional language.

Education

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have been held with teaching unions regarding the number of teachers of English as an additional language required in schools.

Adam Ingram: Scottish Government officials met with the Education Committee of The Educational Institute of Scotland on 2 November 2007. English as an additional language was an agenda item at this meeting.

Emergency Services

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to promote awareness of the correct use of the 999 emergency number.

Kenny MacAskill: Malicious and unnecessary 999 calls divert the emergency services away from genuine emergency calls. Scotland’s fire and rescue services’ leaflets and the Scottish Government’s fire safety website contain information about misuse of the 999 system through making hoax calls.

  Scottish police forces are looking at how to reduce the burden of non-emergency calls on the 999 service and three police forces namely Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary, Fife Constabulary and Grampian Police, have a non-emergency number for people needing to contact the police in those areas. The Crime Stoppers service can also be used as a means of contacting the police.

  NHS Scotland operate the NHS 24 service which provides advice and guidance to the public for health matters which are urgent but not life-threatening.

Emergency Services

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to set up a non-emergency number for people needing to contact the police.

Kenny MacAskill: Scottish police forces are looking at how to reduce the burden of non-emergency calls on the 999 service and three police forces namely Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary, Fife Constabulary and Grampian Police, have a non-emergency number for people needing to contact the police in those areas. The Crime Stoppers service can also be used as a means of contacting the police.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the Common Fisheries Policy.

Richard Lochhead: No. The Common Fisheries Policy has not served Scotland’s interests or the interests of its fishing communities.

Fisheries

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place for the repayment of awards received by Young’s Seafood under the Fisheries Processing and Marketing Awards Scheme in 2003 and 2004 for the upgrading of its production facilities in Annan.

Richard Lochhead: The company have been informed that they will be required to repay the financial assistance paid in 2003 and 2004 in line the grant conditions and agreed procedures for recovery. Officials are presently in discussion with the company regarding the procedures for recovery.

Fisheries

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what Executive grants have been applied for by Young’s Seafood since 1999; which applications have been successful, and in which sites such grants been invested.

Richard Lochhead: The following grants, which have been fully completed or are in the process of being completed, have been awarded to the Young’s group of companies since 1999:

  

 Young’s Seafood 
 Annan
 1 award totalling £141,878


 Macrae Edinburgh Ltd 
 Edinburgh/Livingston
 6 awards totalling £2,025,552


 Macrae Foods Ltd
 Fraserburgh/Peterhead
 7 awards totalling £1,752,707


 Strathaird Salmon Ltd
 Inverness
 2 awards totalling £615,353



  The following grants were applied for but were either cancelled or rejected:

  

 Young’s Seafood 
 Annan
 1 award totalling £426,665


 Young’s Seafood
 Stornoway
 1 award totalling £24,472


 Strathaird Salmon Ltd
 Inverness
 1 award totalling £561,568

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what actions are being taken to implement fully the next phase of the Scottish Diet Action Plan so that it has measurable and incremental impacts up to 2010.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is taking forward a wide range of action on food and health. Examples include the healthyliving campaign which promotes awareness of a healthier diet and encourages people to choose healthier food options; the Healthyliving Award which promotes preparation and provision of healthier foods in the catering sector; and work with retailers and community food initiatives through the Scottish Grocers Federation Healthyliving Programme and Community Food and Health (Scotland) to ensure that those living in the most deprived and rural areas are provided with better access to healthier food choices. Nutritional standards, already in schools and prisons, are being developed for the rest of the public sector.

  The Scottish Government food and health website provides a more comprehensive list of current Scottish Government action on food and health. (see http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health)

  Further action on food and health will be announced in due course.

Justice

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals involved in civil cases were held on remand in each year since 1980.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information is not available. Scottish Prison Service records do not differentiate remand warrants.

Meat Industry

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consult rural communities and the retail industry about the best locations for new abattoir facilities.

Richard Lochhead: Although we have no current plans to consult rural communities, we will await the outcome of the foot-and-mouth disease review. While the location of any new abattoirs is a commercial matter for individual operators, our draft Scotland Rural Development Programme does includes measures offering support for new rural abattoirs.

Police

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the baseline figure is for the number of police on the streets which the Scottish Government is committed to increase by 1,000.

Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-5168 on 29 October 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

School Meals

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the dates of telephone calls made by the Minister for Children and Early Years to the five local authorities involved in the free school meals pilot as referred to at the meeting of the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee on 26 September 2007 ( Official Report c. 112).

Adam Ingram: I telephoned the leaders of Glasgow City Council, Fife Council and Scottish Borders Council on 21 September 2007 to discuss the free school meals trial.

  Prior to that I visited both West Dunbartonshire Council and East Ayrshire Council on 10 July 2007 to discuss free school meals, amongst other subjects.

Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999.

Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer I gave to her earlier question on this matter S3O-831 on 4 October 2007 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/sch/search .

Scottish Government Legislation

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the bills to implement the proposals announced in the First Minister’s legislative programme statement on 5 September 2007.

Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government will be bringing forward a rolling programme of legislation in line with the First Minister’s announcement over the remaining months of this Parliamentary year.

Security Industry

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that workers in the private security industry are not adversely affected by delays in processing licence applications by the Security Industry Authority ahead of the 1 November deadline.

Kenny MacAskill: The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is meeting its published timescale for processing correctly completed applications of six weeks. The SIA has been working closely with the industry for nearly two years to ensure that the security businesses were ready for 1 November. We are in regular contact with the SIA about the progress of its operations in Scotland.

Teachers

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have been held with COSLA regarding the number of teachers of English as an additional language required in schools.

Adam Ingram: The issue of teachers of English as an additional language was discussed at the teacher workforce planning meetings at which COSLA was represented.

Teachers

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional funding will be made available to employ sufficient numbers of teachers of English as an additional language to address the growing requirement for their services.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government will continue to work with local authorities to improve provision for pupils for whom English is an additional language. The funding to be provided will be as set out in the Scottish Government’s spending plans for 2008-11.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether carers qualify for free flu vaccinations.

Shona Robison: Carers currently qualify for free flu vaccinations. The current definition of carer is someone, who, without payment, provides help and support to a partner, child or neighbour, who could not manage without their help. This could be due to age, physical or mental illness, addiction or disability. A young carer is a child or young person under the age of 18 carrying out significant caring tasks and assuming a level of responsibility for another person, which would normally be taken by an adult.

  All recommendations in respect of the flu vaccination are subject to individual clinical judgement.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether carers qualified for free flu vaccinations prior to 2007.

Shona Robison: Carers were first included amongst the groups to be offered the free flu vaccination in the 2005-06 seasonal influenza campaign. This followed a recommendation from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether guidance in relation to free flu vaccinations for carers has changed since the policy was introduced.

Shona Robison: There has been no significant change to guidance following the introduction of free flu vaccinations to carers in 2005-06, but the definition of carers was amended in 2006-07 to reflect the definition used more generally in general medical practice in Scotland.

  Additionally, the Chief Medical Officer’s letter in 2006-07 indicated that, due to potential vaccine delivery delays, carers had a lower prioritisation for vaccination than those in clinical at risk groups for the 2006-07 season. No such de-prioritisation was made for this year’s flu programme.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether health workers qualified for free flu vaccinations prior to 2007.

Shona Robison: Every year since the start of the programme, the Chief Medical Officer’s letter has recommended that health boards and NHS employers in Scotland should offer free influenza immunisation to employees directly involved in patient care. This remains the case for the current year’s campaign.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether guidance in relation to free flu vaccinations for health workers has changed since the policy was introduced.

Shona Robison: Every year since the start of the seasonal flu vaccination programme, the Chief Medical Officer’s letter has recommended that health boards and NHS employers in Scotland should offer free influenza immunisation to employees directly involved in patient care. This guidance has not changed.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether care home staff qualify for free flu vaccinations.

Shona Robison: The Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisation (JCVI), who are responsible for making recommendations to ministers on the categories of people to be included in the free flu immunisation programme, do not include care home workers in their recommendations.

  Nevertheless every year since the start of the programme, the Chief Medical Officer’s letter has recommended that social care organisations should consider offering influenza immunisation to employees directly involved in patient care. From 2006-07 this included specific reference to staff in nursing and care homes who look after older people.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether care home staff qualified for free flu vaccinations prior to 2007.

Shona Robison: The Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisation (JCVI), who are responsible for making recommendations to Ministers on the categories of people to be included in the free flu immunisation programme, do not include care home workers in their recommendations.

  Nevertheless every year since the start of the programme, the Chief Medical Officer’s letter has recommended that social care organisations should consider offering influenza immunisation to employees directly involved in patient care.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether guidance in relation to free flu vaccinations for care home workers has changed since the policy was introduced.

Shona Robison: Every year since the start of the seasonal flu vaccination programme, the Chief Medical Officer’s letter has recommended that social care organisations should consider offering influenza immunisation to employees directly involved in patient care. The wording of this recommendation was changed from 2006-07 to include specific reference to staff in nursing and care homes who look after older people.

Waste Management

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what role it envisages for composting in the sustainable management of biodegradable resources.

Richard Lochhead: Home composting, community composting and centralised composting have a significant role in the sustainable management of biodegradable waste. The Scottish Government is providing support to local authorities and other delivery bodies in relation to home and community composting, the collection of material from householders for composting, composting infrastructure and developing markets for compost.

Waste Management

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it promotes the importance of small-scale producers in the production of compost.

Richard Lochhead: Where the production and storage of compost from appropriate materials is less than 400 tonnes at any one time (1,000 tonnes in the case of farm businesses), producers benefit from an exemption from the full requirements of waste management licensing and consequently lower regulatory charges.

  We support the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to provide advice and run capital grant schemes for composting infrastructure. Both WRAP and REMADE Scotland also carry out work on the development of markets for recycled products.

  The government has also supported a number of community composting projects.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Parliamentary Questions

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will list for each individual MSP who submitted their name at least once for a computerised ballot for oral questions since 3 May 2007, excluding Scottish ministers and the Presiding Officer, the number of times each member has been selected to ask a question and the proportion of their submissions which were successful.

Alex Fergusson: During the period between 3 May and 31 October 2007 selections were made, by computerised ballot, for question times taken in 14 meetings of the Parliament. The maximum number of times that members could have submitted their names for selection was 40 times and the maximum number of times that they could have been selected to lodge a question was 14 times.

  The following table shows the number of times that each member submitted their name, the number of times that they were selected and the proportion of their submission that were successful, for the period between 3 May and 31 October 2007.

  

 Member Number*
 Number of Times Name Submitted
 Number of Times Selected
 Proportion of Successful Submissions


 1
 40
 7
 17.5%


 2
 34
 4
 11.8%


 3
 40
 1
 2.5%


 4
 9
 0
 0%


 5
 28
 3
 10.7%


 6
 16
 1
 6.2%


 7
 22
 3
 13.6%


 8
 40
 4
 10%


 9
 40
 3
 7.5%


 10
 3
 0
 0%


 11
 18
 1
 5.6%


 12
 40
 3
 7.5%


 13
 40
 4
 10%


 14
 34
 5
 14.7%


 15
 34
 2
 5.9%


 16
 40
 3
 7.5%


 17
 40
 4
 10%


 18
 40
 1
 2.5%


 19
 40
 3
 7.5%


 20
 40
 7
 17.5%


 21
 40
 4
 10%


 22
 40
 4
 10%


 23
 40
 1
 2.5%


 24
 40
 3
 7.5%


 25
 40
 4
 10%


 26
 1
 0
 0%


 27
 31
 5
 16.1%


 28
 40
 3
 7.5%


 29
 27
 4
 14.8%


 30
 34
 2
 5.9%


 31
 40
 4
 10%


 32
 31
 1
 3.2%


 33
 34
 3
 8.8%


 34
 40
 4
 10%


 35
 40
 9
 22.5%


 36
 40
 5
 12.5%


 37
 33
 8
 24.2%


 38
 40
 4
 10%


 39
 21
 2
 9.5%


 40
 21
 3
 14.3%


 41
 34
 3
 8.8%


 42
 36
 4
 11.1%


 43
 40
 5
 12.5%


 44
 40
 5
 12.5%


 45
 9
 3
 33.3%


 46
 19
 4
 21%


 47
 40
 6
 15%


 48
 40
 4
 10%


 49
 24
 4
 16.7%


 50
 33
 6
 18.2%


 51
 40
 4
 10%


 52
 18
 1
 5.6%


 53
 40
 5
 12.5%


 54
 40
 2
 5%


 55
 36
 4
 11.1%


 56
 39
 7
 17.9%


 57
 40
 5
 12.5%


 58
 19
 0
 0%


 59
 20
 2
 10%


 60
 19
 4
 21%


 61
 40
 5
 12.5%


 62
 40
 4
 10%


 63
 40
 4
 10%


 64
 34
 4
 11.8%


 65
 34
 3
 8.8%


 66
 40
 2
 5%


 67
 40
 4
 10%


 68
 35
 5
 14.3%


 69
 40
 2
 5%


 70
 31
 4
 12.9%


 71
 40
 4
 10%


 72
 40
 2
 5%


 73
 40
 2
 5%


 74
 40
 5
 12.5%


 75
 37
 3
 8.1%


 76
 4
 0
 0%


 77
 33
 1
 3%


 78
 40
 5
 12.5%


 79
 40
 6
 15%


 80
 28
 3
 10.7%


 81
 40
 7
 17.5%


 82
 25
 6
 24%


 83
 40
 5
 12.5%


 84
 36
 7
 19.4%


 85
 40
 4
 10%


 86
 40
 3
 7.5%


 87
 25
 1
 4%


 88
 40
 3
 7.5%


 89
 40
 4
 10%


 90
 40
 5
 12.5%


 91
 40
 7
 17.5%


 92
 34
 3
 8.8%


 93
 40
 6
 15%


 94
 33
 3
 9.1%


 95
 40
 7
 17.5%


 96
 21
 1
 4.8%


 97
 40
 7
 17.5%


 98
 40
 5
 12.5%


 99
 24
 1
 4.2%


 100
 37
 4
 10.8%


 101
 40
 4
 10%


 102
 40
 6
 15%%


 103
 21
 2
 9.5%


 104
 24
 2
 8.3%


 105
 22
 3
 13.6%


 106
 34
 3
 8.8%


 107
 40
 5
 12.5%


 108
 28
 5
 17.9%


 109
 40
 3
 7.5%



  Note: *These numbers represent the order in which staff processed the information reproduced in the table.